Daily Bible Reflections for Catholics
JANUARY, 2000
1
SATURDAY
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. --- Luke 2:19
REFLECTION: Is Mary your model of Christian discipleship?
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
2
SUNDAY
Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts of gold... --- Matthew 2:11
REFLECTION: Relationship is your reason for serving God, not practicality.
In sweet abandon, let me be poured out, and used up for Thee.
3
MONDAY
He went around all of Galilee...curing every disease and illness among the people. --- Matthew 4:23
REFLECTION: Say this -- "Jesus in my heart." Feel the healing?
Jesus, I open my heart's door to You and I ask You to come in.
4
TUESDAY
"Give them some food yourselves." --- Mark 6:37
REFLECTION: Develop the habit of sharing your time, talent, and treasures with other people.
Lord, take my five loaves and two fish and multiply them for others.
5
WEDNESDAY
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. --- 1 John 4:11
REFLECTION: Being meek doesn't mean you're a coward.
In times of dispute, let me remember that You love me so much.
Help me keep an open mind and open heart.
6
THURSDAY
"He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives..." --- Luke 4:18
REFLECTION: It's the number of times you repent that God counts.
Whenever I commit the same sin over and over,
I realize ever more deeply that I need a Savior.
I need You, Jesus.
7
FRIDAY
Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him... --- Luke 5:13
REFLECTION: Fr. Teo Rustia said : Daily, you need five hugs for survival,
five more hugs for maintenance and five more hugs for happiness and well-being.
Lord, give me the courage to give the healing touch of Your love.
8
SATURDAY
...but the one begotten by God He protects, and the evil one cannot touch him. --- 1 John 5:18
REFLECTION: Friends are there for you so you can break the painful silence.
You have sent Christian friends to be our earthly angels.
9
SUNDAY
It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was
baptized in the Jordan by John. --- Mark 1:9
REFLECTION: Can God entrust you with responsibilities, no matter how small?
Lord, the basics are the easiest things to forget,
yet these are the things I need to make the final cut to Your kingdom.
10
MONDAY
...Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: "This is the time of
fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand." --- Mark 1:14-15
REFLECTION: God comes near. When was the last time you set aside your
own boxes and took a good look?
Eyes to see You, this is my request, Lord Jesus.
11
TUESDAY
...she remained long at prayer before the LORD... --- 1 Samuel 1:12
REFLECTION: The greatest prayer of our hearts - simply our desire to be with Him.
Lord Jesus, give me the grace of perseverance.
Help me to be honest with You.
12
WEDNESDAY
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. --- Mark 1:31
REFLECTION: Are you experiencing difficulties? Lift them up to the Lord
and He'll save you and vindicate you at the proper time.
Lord, grant me patience and endurance to see through
this obstacle before me.
13
THURSDAY
"Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated today by the Philistines?" --- 1 Samuel 4:3
REFLECTION: Trust in His loving will for you, even in the face of defeat.
Father, I've been defeated lots of times before, and I don't know why.
Help me to trust in Your loving ways.
14
FRIDAY
They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen
anything like this." --- Mark 2:12
REFLECTION: Do you have a heavy burden right now?
Bring it to God and you'll be surprised at what He can do!
Lord, nothing amazes me most than Your great love and mercy for me.
May I be able to reciprocate that love more and more!
15
SATURDAY
"Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?" --- Mark 2:16
REFLECTION: My friend, someone out there who is spiritually sick needs you.
Attend to him in Jesus' name.
Lord Jesus, I thank You for my father for making him Your adopted brother.
16
SUNDAY
...His mother kept all these things in her heart. --- Luke 2:51
REFLECTION: Think of a way to say, "MOM, I LOVE YOU, IS THAT O.K.?"
Thank You, Jesus, for allowing me to feel You in my mother's love.
17
MONDAY
"Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins.
Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins..." --- Mark 2:22
REFLECTION: Reaching out to God and to others means
touching base with your own self first.
A lamp to my feet is Your word, a light to my path.(Psalm 119:105)
18
TUESDAY
"How he went into the house of God..." --- Mark 2:26
REFLECTION: If you're to receive a gift, what would you like it to be?
Pray with all your heart. And you'll be surprised.
Almighty Father, You're truly the greatest!
And I proclaim it with all my heart.
19
WEDNESDAY
All this multitude, too, shall learn that...the LORD saves.
For the battle is the LORD's... --- 1 Samuel 17:47
REFLECTION: It is time for you to let go of control. Let God.
Lord, things will go haywire if they were done my way.
20
THURSDAY
"All that remains for him is the kingship." --- 1 Samuel 18:8
REFLECTION: Affirm yourself and say, "I've come home to God's loving plan for me,
I've come home to myself."
Lord, help us to understand that You have a wonderful
plan for each one of us.
21
FRIDAY
He went up the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted
and they came to Him. --- Mark 3:13
REFLECTION: Support from a support group. Quite sensible, isn't it?
Help me find a small group that will level with me, Lord.
22
SATURDAY
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul... --- 2 Samuel 1:12
REFLECTION: Can you love "Just because?"
No you can't, you need God's grace.
Make me a channel of Your love that it may flow freely
to even the most imperfect people.
23
SUNDAY
"Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men." --- Mark 1:17
REFLECTION: Are you sure that God is not calling you
to do something for Him? Try to ask Him in prayer.
Lord, my Master, open my ears, my mind and my heart to Your calling.
Let me hear Your voice and teach me how to respond to Your words.
24
MONDAY
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. --- Mark 3:25
REFLECTION: Exhaust all means to keep unity in community.
Dear God, make us one, as You are one.
How we need Your unifying grace.
25
TUESDAY
"Saul, Saul, wht are you persecuting Me?" --- Acts 22:7
Lord God, forgive us for we are sinners.
Lord God, use us for other sinners.
26
WEDNESDAY
...as I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice... --- 2 Timothy 1:5
REFLECTION: You spring from the root of Jesus.
Righteousness is in your line.
May I be the good tree that will bear fruits in my children and grandchildren.
27
THURSDAY
"Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house,
that you have brought me to this point?" --- 2 Samuel 7:18
REFLECTION: When you start attacking, you lose God.
Lord, Thank You for deciding to love me despite the many times I have rejected you.
Teach me to love in the same way that You love.
28
FRIDAY
...the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown,
it springs up and becomes the largest... --- Mark 4:31-31
REFLECTION: God's will is non-negotiable. He knows best.
Jesus, teach me to love You, and to allow this love to decide everything.
29
SATURDAY
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. --- Mark 4:38
REFLECTION: Is Jesus for you an emergency call or is He your dearest
friend with whom you are not afraid of anything?
Lord, give me such faith that will allow You to sleep.
30
SUNDAY
His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region... --- Mark 1:28
REFLECTION: The Good News, that is the greatest wealth of the Philippines.
Teach me to be the most Filipino, Lord,
by being most Christian.
31
MONDAY
...and the unclean spirits came out... --- Mark 5:13
REFLECTION: When the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives,
we must always be careful to ensure that we remain in His control.
Lord Jesus, help me to recognize the voice of Your Spirit
in my life so that I may more readily do Your will.
Your friend in Jesus,
SHEILA
